Citation

Im JS, Park BCB, Ratcliff KS. Omega (Westport) 2018; 77(4): 386-403.

Affiliation

3 University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Sage Publications)

DOI

10.1177/0030222816675262

PMID

30035706

Abstract

This article examines the cultural sources of underreported suicide deaths in South Korea. It analyzes two sets of suicide data compiled by two different government agencies. Noting the considerable undercounting of suicide deaths compiled by the National Statistical Office, it explores how the underreporting is linked to the Confucian norm of familism. Despite an effort to improve the quality of official suicide data, a reform in the death system is needed in order to gather accurate data for a better understanding of the increased suicides as well as for the development of more effective suicide prevention and intervention strategies.

Language: en

Keywords

South Korea; death system; stigma; suicide death; undercounting